Grand National 2023 Runners & Riders: Full field declared for the big race at Aintree
We’re now around 48 hours away from Aintree’s flagship event, which means that the final list of runners is confirmed. Another Grand National is nearly upon us, so what better time to go through the Grand National runners and riders.
Grand National 2023 runners in order of handicap mark/weight carried
Any Second Now (ridden by M P Walsh, trained by T M Walsh)
Could it be third time lucky for this horse? He finished third in this race in 2021 and second behind Noble Yeats last year. Has plenty to do from his highest ever handicap mark, though he looked in good shape at Navan last time out.
Noble Yeats (ridden by S Bowen, trained by Emmet Mullins)
Eight-year-old who has had plenty of success in big-field handicaps, including when winning this race last year. Turned in a decent effort at Cheltenham last time out, but has lots of weight to carry here.
Galvin (ridden by D Russell, trained by G Elliott)
Strong staying chaser who ran well behind stable mate Delta Work at Cheltenham last time out. Should have the stamina for this and is not to be discounted.
Fury Road (ridden by J O’Neill Jr, trained by G Elliott)
Grade 2 winning chaser, who has run with credit in Grade 1 company this season. Now steps up considerably in trip for powerful stable that knows how to get one ready for the national.
The Big Dog (ridden by A Coleman, trained by P Fahey)
Three wins and four places over fences, this 10-year-old has turned in some good performances in big staying handicaps, finishing third in the Welsh Grand National back in December. Looks up against it from higher in the weights here, though.
Capodanno (ridden by D E Mullins, trained by W Mullins)
Very unexposed chaser, who arrives here for top yard after impressing in a Grade 1 Novice event at Punchestown. Not without a chance if the step up in trip suits.
Delta Work (ridden K M Donoghue, trained by G Elliott)
Very consistent long-distance chaser, who won a the Cheltenham Festival for the third time last month. Third in this race last year and commands plenty of respect.
Sam Brown (ridden by J J Burke, trained by A J Honeyball)
11-year-old who has won at Aintree previously, but this is a different kettle of fish and probably needs a career-best effort to come out on top.
Lifetime Ambition (ridden by S O’Keefe, trained by J Harrington)
Useful three-mile chaser in Ireland. Finished second to Capodanno at Punchestown last season and has run well in some big handicaps since. Each-way claims on the pick of his form.
Carefully Selected (ridden by M J M O’Sullivan, trained by W Mullins)
Four wins from seven runs over fences, this 11-year-old is unexposed as a chaser and has shaped with plenty of promise. Won a big handicap chase at Gowran Park in January, though this demands more.
Coko Beach (ridden by H Cobden, trained by G Elliott)
Eighth in this race last year, Coko Beach is another from the Gordon Elliott clan, who won in commanding fashion over three and half miles at Punchestown back in February. Been waited with since and cannot be discounted.
Longhouse Poet (ridden by J J Slevin, trained by M Brassil)
Another who got round last year, finishing in sixth. Arrives here off the same handicap mark and looked as good as ever when winning at Down Royal last month. Holds solid each-way claims for a trainer who won this race back in 2006.
Gaillard Du Mesnil (ridden by P Townend, trained by W Mullins)
Looks to be one of the class acts in the race. Got the job done well at Cheltenham last month, performing as if he could get even better with extra distance to cover. Can run very well for his powerful stable.
Darasso (ridden L P Dempsey, trained by J O’Brien)
Decent chaser on his day, but looked out of sorts when last seen and now steps beyond three miles for the first time.
Le Milos (ridden by H Skelton, trained by D Skelton)
Impressive eight-year-old, who has won five out of ten over fences, placing on two further occasions. Won the very valuable Coral Gold Cup at Newbury back in November and this has long been the target. Holds a very definite chance.
Escaria Ten (ridden by A Heskin, trained by G Elliott)
Just one win from 11 races over fences doesn’t inspire much confidence, though he did get round in this last year, finishing in a respectable ninth. Hard to see him building massively on that, though.
The Big Breakaway (ridden by B Powell, trained J Tizzard)
Ran a cracker from close-up in the Welsh National, beaten less than two lengths by the winner, but has since pulled up at Cheltenham, while he was pulled up on his only previous outing at Aintree. First-time blinkers need to spark a revival.
Cape Gentleman (ridden by J S McGarvey, trained by J J Hanlon)
Won a decent race at Cork back in 2021, but has done little since and has twice looked a horse out of form this season. Hard to make a case for.
Roi Mage (ridden by F de Giles, trained P Griffin)
Six-times a winner over fences and has often run well in big-field handicaps. Good second to Longhouse Poet at Down Royal recently. Each-way player at a big price.
Diol Ker (ridden by K Buckley, N Meade)
Has just one chase win to his name and looks up against it here despite some decent efforts in big-field Irish handicaps.
A Wave Of The Sea (ridden by S Fitzgerald, trained by J O’Brien
Irish handicap chase winner, though has often struggled when stepping up to decent three-mile races and it’s hard to see him making the required improvement now going over much further.
Minella Trump (ridden by Theo Gillard, trained by D McCain Jnr)
Prolific handicap chase winner, who has scored in eight of his 12 races over fences. Has been very lightly raced in the last year, and wasn’t seen to best effect at Bangor last month, but if he comes from that and takes to this step up in trip, then he could get involved at a decent price.
Vanillier (ridden by S W Flanagan, trained G P Cromwell)
Lightly raced over fences, this eight-year-old has run well in some big field events, while he posted a sold effort behind 157-rated Kemboy when stepping beyond three miles for the first time recently. Claims if building on that.
Velvet Elvis (ridden by D J O’Keefe, trained by T Gibney)
Three-mile winner at Navan last year, who looked in solid form when winning at Fairyhouse in February. Beaten by Any Second Now last time out, but has plenty of stamina and should like this test.
Ain’t That A Shame (ridden by R Blackmore, trained by H de Bromhead)
Unexposed chaser, who has performed very well in some big-field events and who looked in great shape when winning well at Gowran Park recently. Not to be overlooked for a jockey and trainer combination that won this race in 2021.
Corach Rambler (ridden by D R Fox, trained by L Russell)
Impressive handicap performer who once again scored at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. Steps up in trip, but may not be fully exposed and is hard to discount.
Enjoy D’Allen (ridden by S D Torrens, trained by C Murphy)
Nine-year-old who has often given his running amongst big fields in handicaps over in Ireland, but hasn’t won for a long time, while he unseated his rider at the first in this race last year.
Mr Incredible (ridden by B Hayes, trained by W Mullins)
Lightly raced chaser who arrives here off the back of a very good third at Cheltenham last month. Has the stamina for this and could easily get involved if getting a safe trip round.
Mister Coffey (ridden by N de Boinville, trained by N J Henderson)
Only runner for his top yard. Solid placed effort behind Gaillard Du Mesnil last time out and could have more to offer over this more stamina-sapping trip.
Cloudy Glen (ridden by C Deutsch, trained V Williams)
Good third in a Grand National trial at Haydock earlier this year. Struggling when pulled up at Cheltenham, but could bounce back. Trainer won this in 2009.
Hill Sixteen (ridden by R Mania, trained by A M Thomson)
The mount of the 2013 Grand National wining jockey arrives here having struggled in recent times, though he’s dropped in the weights, while he does have a very good second three miles to his name at Aintree.
Gabby’s Cross (ridden by P Carberry, trained by H de Bromhead)
Hasn’t won since going beyond three miles and now has stamina to prove for this. Looks unlikely to feature prominently, though his trainer is rarely one to write off completely.
Recite A Prayer (ridden by J B Foley, trained by W Mullins)
Strong staying chaser from top yard, who knows how to give his running over ultra-marathon trips. Very much as that in favour and gets plenty of weight.
Eva’s Oskar (ridden by A Johns, trained by T Vaughan)
Good second at Cheltenham in November, which was backed up by a win at that venue next time out. Solid effort in fourth when going beyond four miles at Newcastle last time out too. Interesting each-way player at big odds.
Our Power (ridden by S Twiston-Davies, trained by S Thomas)
Unexposed chaser, who took his record over fences to four from eight when winning a Grade 1 at Kempton in February. Could well have more to give and is an interesting prospect from low in the weights.
Dunboyne (ridden by J Tudor, trained by G Elliott)
Lightly raced eight-year-old. Comes here having run well in big-field events the last twice. Comes from the right stable, so not without an each-way chance.
Francky Du Berlais (ridden by B Jones, trained by P Bowen)
Experienced chaser but usually finds at least a few too good in big-field events. Not one for the top of the shortlist, that’s for sure.
Fortescue (ridden by H Nugent, trained by H D Daly)
Pulled up in the Welsh National, though he did plug on late in the day in a Grand National trial over three and a half miles at Haydock last time out. Unseated in this last year.
Back On The Lash (ridden by A Wedge, trained by M Keighley)
Five wins from 13 runs over fences, this nine-year-old won over a marathon trip at Cheltenham in January, and he stayed on well. Pulled up at that venue latest, though, so probably needs to find more.
Born By The Sea (ridden by P T Enright, trained b P J Gilligan)
Carries the lowest weight here, but there’s a reason for that. Just two wins from 19 runs over fences, and it looks as though he’s unlikely to enhance that record here.
